Chennai: The Madras High Court has sought a detailed report from the Tamil Nadu Director General of Police (DGP), Dr. Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal, a 1994-batch IPS officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre, on whether CCTV footage from police stations across the state is being preserved for the mandated period of 18 months.
Justice V. Lakshminarayanan directed the DGP to clarify the status of CCTV storage and specifically questioned why the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (V&AC) office in Coimbatore reportedly retains recordings for only 15 days.
The court has asked the DGP to submit a report by September 10, 2026. The judge also observed that retaining footage for even a minute less than the prescribed 18-month period would amount to non-compliance with directions issued by the Supreme Court and the High Court.
Coimbatore V&AC Office Raises Storage Concern
The issue came up during the hearing of a petition filed by A. Saravanakumar, a Sub-Inspector attached to the Civil Supplies-CID in Salem.
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The petitioner, who is facing allegations of demanding a bribe from a person accused in a case involving the alleged smuggling of 1,250 kg of rice meant for the Public Distribution System, sought access to CCTV footage from the V&AC office in Coimbatore.
He wanted footage covering the period from September 15 to October 15, 2025, claiming that it could support his defence and help establish that the corruption complaint against him was false.
However, the V&AC informed the court that the requested footage could not be provided because the digital video recorder installed at its Coimbatore office retains recordings for only 15 days.
Supreme Court Had Set 18-Month CCTV Standard
During the proceedings, senior counsel R. Shunmugasundaram, assisted by advocate Shakeena Abdul Gafoor, referred to the Supreme Court’s directions in Paramvir Singh Saini v. Baljit Singh.
In its 2020 judgment, the Supreme Court directed states and Union Territories to install CCTV systems in police stations with audio and video recording and preserve the recorded data for 18 months. Where equipment capable of storing footage for 18 months was not commercially available, the Court required the maximum available capacity, subject to a minimum of one year, until 18-month systems became available.
The Supreme Court had also directed that CCTV coverage extend to important areas of police stations, including entry and exit points, lock-ups, corridors, reception areas, officers’ rooms and other specified locations.
Court Seeks Statewide Position
Justice Lakshminarayanan’s direction now puts the focus on whether Tamil Nadu’s police establishments are uniformly complying with the CCTV preservation requirement.
The key issues before the DGP include:
- Whether CCTV footage in police stations across Tamil Nadu is being retained for 18 months.
- The storage capacity available in the state’s police establishments.
- Why the Coimbatore V&AC office reportedly retains footage for only 15 days.
- Whether the existing systems comply with judicial directions on CCTV preservation.
- Steps being taken to ensure that required footage remains available when sought during legal proceedings.
The Supreme Court had emphasised that CCTV footage can be crucial when complaints involving police conduct, serious injuries or custodial deaths are raised, allowing courts and human rights bodies to secure and examine relevant recordings.
CCTV Footage Sought in Bribery Case
The present proceedings originated from Saravanakumar’s attempt to obtain recordings that he says could help challenge the allegations against him.
With the V&AC stating that its system could retain footage for only 15 days, the High Court has expanded the issue beyond the individual case to examine compliance with the broader CCTV preservation requirement.
The DGP has been directed to file the report by September 10, after which the court is expected to examine the state’s response.
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